WILDCATS 5, KNIGHTHAWKS 1: York extends win streak to 5

Monday

Feb 12, 2018 at 11:12 PMFeb 12, 2018 at 11:20 PM

Jay Pinsonnault jpinsonnault@seacoastonline.com @JayPinceSMG

DOVER — Three power-play opportunities turned into three power-play goals, and the York High School boys hockey team skated to its fifth straight win with a 5-1 decision over Class A South Marshwood/Noble/Traip/Sanford on Monday at Dover Ice Arena.

“We got some pucks to the net and put in some rebounds,” York coach Jim Powers said. “I thought we executed very well on the power play tonight; it was good to see.”

Junior forward Dalton McCann figured in on all of York’s scoring with two goals and three assists.

“I played pretty well, but all the guys around me helped me get those points; it was not just an independent effort,” McCann said. “We were moving the puck quickly (on the power play), getting it to the points and firing shots to the net; that worked pretty well for us.”

Class B South York improved to 11-4 on the season with three games left. The Wildcats have outscored the opposition 18-6 during their five-game win streak.

“I think we can play better,” McCann said. “A lot of games we are coming out flat opposed to last year, but we are playing a lot better now than we were at the beginning of the season. I am happy with that. I think we are on the right track. Hopefully we can get these three last wins before the playoffs.”

McCann scored his first of the night midway through the second period on a nice feed by junior Jake Nelson. Nelson rushed the right side of the ice, slid the puck to the center where McCann was waiting and he poked it home for the goal.

Later in the second, McCann scored just 33 seconds into a York power play and the Wildcats led 3-0 with 1:57 left in the second period.

McCann then assisted on both of York’s goals in the third period — the first goal by sophomore Max Pickett and the final goal of the night by senior captain Jake Martin.

“I am really proud of (McCann) in the past couple of games,” Powers said. “He’s been really focused and just grinding away. He’s a tough, heavy player who is willing to go into the corners for the puck. He was focused tonight and just played hockey. When he does that, he gets his linemates involved and he’s not afraid to get to the front of the net. It was just a great night for him for sure.”

The KnightHawks got on the board with 9:59 left as Cooper Ross scored a power-play goal on an assist from junior Henry Honkonen. Ross’ goal cut the York lead to 4-1, but the Wildcats answered right back just 42 seconds later.

“I hoping to get that (Ross) goal when it was 3-0 so we could hopefully claw back into this thing a little bit,” KnightHawk coach Eric Royal said. “Obviously, you have to score goals to win the hockey game. I am glad he got it, and it was a great shot. It was a good play and he did the right things there and was rewarded for it.”

Marshwood/Noble/Traip/Sanford is now 6-10 on the season with two games left. The Wildcats had the edge in shots on goal, 40-21.

“We did some nice things, but I think our biggest shortcoming has been we are easy to play against,” Royal said. “We don’t get in people’s way enough and if you let good skaters skate freely you are going to allow scoring chances and you are going to end up giving up goals. It’s a 5-1 loss and obviously we’re not happy about that, but I’m more upset with other games than what we did tonight.”

York senior goalie Keenan Gamache had 20 saves, losing the bid for his first shutout of the season a third of the way through the third.

“(Shutouts) has not really been in the forefront for us this year,” Powers said. “I liked the way we played. I think we played with some speed tonight, and I think that was evident in the shot differential. We were able to drive the puck deep into their zone by skating it in hard, and we were trying to keep the puck moving ahead which is a good sign as well.”

Nelson had three assists on the night for the Wildcats, while Spencer Pickettt had two and Max Pickett and Mark Engholm each had one.

York got on the scoreboard with 10:52 left in the first on a power-play goal from junior Andrew Bertolini. Spencer Pickett got a pass on the stick from McCann, rushed toward the goal and dropped the puck back to Bertolini, who found the back of the net.

York plays it second straight Class A opponent on Thursday when it travels to William B. Troubh Arena in Portland for a game against Cheverus (11-4-1).

"This was a good contest for us tonight," Powers said. "Marshwood played us hard; they didn’t give us much breathing room."

Marshwood/Noble/Traip/Sanford, which is in last place in the latest HealPoint standings, hosts Lawrence/Skowhegan/MCI on Friday at Dover Ice Arena. The puck is set to drop at 4:15 p.m.

“You always want to finish strong,” Royal said. “These last two games, we want to compete more and make teams have to earn it to get by us. Hopefully, we show that in the last couple of games here.”

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